There are various
forms of mandalas with distinct concepts and different purposes.
The individual representations range from the so-called Cosmic
Mandalas, which transmit the ancient knowledge of the development
of the universe and the world-systems which represents a high
point among Mandalas dedicated to meditation; to the Mandalas
of the Medicine Buddha which demonstrates how the Buddha-power
radiates in all directions, portraying the healing power of
the Buddha.

The symbolism of meditation Mandalas
has a rich tradition. The outer form of these so-called holy
circles is a geometrical diagram, a Yantra, and each
detail of its construction has symbolic meaning. The essence
or purpose of the Mandala is concerned with the process of invocation,
the calling in and realization of the spiritual force within
the contemplator himself. All these different picture-tools
have essentially the same inner meaning and purpose, but there
are mandalas to suit all levels of consciousness: for the spiritually
highly developed, for average people and for people not yet
developed.

The
Cosmic Mandala

The Cosmic Mandala is encompassed
by a flaming circle. At the Centre is a three-footed spiral
symbolizing a first movement, surrounded by rotating wind which
condenses into so-called basic elements, representing the states
of aggregation: Wind or Air stands for the gaseous state; Fire
is usually depicted as a red triangle and stands for transformation;
Water for liquid, represented by a half-circle or circle; Earth
for solid matter, symbolized by a yellow square or cube. The
emerging forms of the elements are painted in the blue ring
surrounding the Centre, in the lower sphere intimating the world-continents
to be. The blue Ether represents the all pervading condition,
the source of all elements filling the space of the Mandala.
On it circles are drawn; looking like ellipses in their dynamic
intersection, they portray the orbits of celestial bodies, painted
in all the colours of the rainbow plus black and white and indicating
the directions. These twelve astrological circles of the upper
sphere demonstrate the movements of sun, moon and stars in the
seasons.

Tibetan
monks constructing a festival mandala with sand and the dust
of precious stones. After the festival the mandala will be destroyed,
thus expressing the insubstantiality of visible forms.

Traditionally the Kalachakra Initiation
has been a closely guarded secret and the viewing of the mandala
forms the culmination of a twelve day initiation ritual for
Tibetan Buddhist practitioners. However, the Dalai Lama, recognizing
the many misconceptions surrounding Tibetan Buddhist practice,
began presentations of the Kalachakra Sand Mandala to the general
public as a cultural offering.